I started filming new episodes of my Food Network show this week. Meanwhile, new episodes I shot over the summer are still airing every Saturday morning.

It’s kind of like when a cow gets bred while she’s still nursing her calf.

Or something along those lines.

Do me a favor, okay? Just pretend I didn’t say that.

Before I tell you about tomorrow’s episode, here are a few fun facts (otherwise known as FFF) about my week:

1. The cameras were rolling yesterday when I had to load Charlie and Walter into my vehicle. It wasn’t until I had a camera pointed at me that I realized what an unattractive activity picking up a Basset Hound is. There is a great deal of leaning over, straining, and grunting.

I felt as young and graceful as a gazelle! Not.

2. I finally, after a long, exhaustive search, found the perfect pair of jeans at American Eagle recently. I have been wearing them all week. They’re called “Skinny Kick” and are a combination of skinny jeans (at the top) and regular mildly boot-cut jeans at the bottom. I like them because I don’t have to call 911 or my daughters to help me get them off as I did with my regular skinny jeans.

Really saves me time in the evenings.

3. Several times when the camera has been tight on my (veiny and scary looking) hands during cooking over the past couple of days, they’ve had to stop because my tops of my fingers had inexplicably turned blue. At first I was very alarmed and thought I had developed a sudden circulatory problem. I started making out my will in my head and began reflecting on my life since I was a child. As it turned out, though, every time I pulled down/adjusted the Spanx camisole I was wearing, the tops of my fingers rubbed against my new jeans and got blue dye all over them.

Of course.

4. I suppose I could stop adjusting my Spanx camisole all the time, but I’m always afraid if I don’t, it’s going to violently retract and wind up around my neck.

And that would cause a whole new circulatory problem altogether.

5. Did you know eye makeup remover cloths remove indigo dye from the tops of fingers?

Life is just a continual classroom.

6. While I was rinsing a turkey on camera yesterday, I may or may not have mentioned how much it reminded me of giving my babies baths when they were little.

I’m not sure I’m cut out for this whole cooking show thing.

For one thing, it requires me to shower.

But this post isn’t about showering! It’s about the show that airs tomorrow morning. It’s one of my favorite episodes to date, because it centers around my father-in-law receiving an award for his contributions to ranching. We filmed the show over the summer, and the crew followed us to southern Oklahoma to the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center so we could attend the awards ceremony. I think the camera might have caught me wiping a tear from my eye, because it’s impossible for me to listen to older people speak about the days of yore and the way things used to be, and to hear them reminisce about their childhood and a time when there was no such thing as cattle trucks or cell phones or Real Housewives without crying.

I’m a mess, is what I’m saying.

After we got back from the awards, a few days later we all got back together at the Lodge for dinner. Our good friends Butch and Julie (top left) joined us and we had steak with blue cheese sauce, smashed potatoes, grilled corn with chili butter, and a big cake for dessert. See that handsome boy on the far left of the front row? He’s my son. I’ve just forgotten to mention him to you all these years.

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230 Comments and 21 Replies

201

Nancy L On Sunday, October 14 at 12:17 pm

I was just mind browsing the other day and I got to thinking about how a couple years ago when you were remodeling your lodge and wondering if it had ever crossed your mind that you would be filming your own cooking show from that lodge kitchen a couple years down the road?? And have 2 published cookbooks and 2 kids books! Wow! What a whirlwind of a couple years you’ve had! You are certainly blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends! Congrats!

202

Becca Lang On Sunday, October 14 at 12:43 pm

Debbie Jeter On Sunday, October 14 at 2:26 pm

I am a new fan and love your show, as well as your blog. Your book “High Heels to Tractor Wheels” was my first Kindle book choice. I had been waiting for months to read it but wanted to save it for the Kindle, as I hate wearing glasses. It was worth the wait! Thank you for your humor and your honesty!

205

judi h. On Sunday, October 14 at 3:56 pm

What a great group picture! Congratulations to your hard working FIL. So deserving of his award I am sure. Your MIL is SOOOO beautiful. I think both of her sons got those dreamy deep set eyes and ….your oldest son has them too:)

My tv automatically tapes your show which is such a blessing as Sat. have a way of running away here:) You sure get the bumpy weather in OK. Love your blog and your show – thanks!

Why did you have to mention these jeans? I just went to the American Eagle website, and now I have to go buy them. I have been unsuccessfully jeans shopping all week, and you may have pointed me in the right direction.

Jennifer On Monday, October 15 at 5:00 am

Somebody might have mentioned this but tuck in your spandex camisole into your granny pantries. It will not ride up.

210

joy On Monday, October 15 at 5:51 am

After being in relationship with emma for seven years,he broke up with me, I did everything possible to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so much because of the love I have for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to someone online and she suggested that I should rather contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back but I am the type that never believed in spell, I had no choice than to try it, I mailed the spell caster, and he told me there was no problem that everything will be okay before three days, that my ex will return to me before three days, he cast the spell and surprisingly in the second day, it was around 4pm. My ex called me, I was so surprised, I answered the call and all he said was that he was so sorry for everything that happened, that he wanted me to return to him, that he loves me so much. I was so happy and went to him, that was how we started living together happily again. Since then, I have made promise that anybody I know that have a relationship problem, I would be of help to such person by reffering him or her to the only real and powerful spell caster who helped me with my own problem and who is different from all the fake ones out there. Anybody could need the help of the spell caster, his email [email protected]) you can email him if you need his assistance in your relationship or anything.

211

mj weston On Monday, October 15 at 6:00 am

as a family we watch your awesome show … we love it! my husband loves your outdoor grill. while marlboro man was cooking the corn and steaks from this past episode my husband kept wondering what the bar on top was for. i told him i could probably find a post about the grill on your blog. after searching i couldn’t find anything, can you please share details about your grill? on behalf of my curious husband, thank you!!!

p.s. i thought it was stinkin cute that your daughter had her purse at the table. hee!

Monae On Monday, October 15 at 12:20 pm

I really enjoyed the show about your father-in-law. As talented as you are, I really appreciate the way your show highlights your family members and friends – and how your cooking is a gift for them. Thanks for including us all in your life.

Jyme On Monday, October 15 at 3:46 pm

Baby wipes remove every thing too…. makes a girl wonder why she used them on her babies hineys when they can get stains out of stuff… anyway… never mind…

I laughed out loud when you talked about how the dye got on your fingers to begin with b/c I am constantly adjusting mine too… I use those spandex things as bras b/c I hate real bras… anyway… too much information… but I am always always always adjusting the darn things… =)

jeanette Wright On Monday, October 15 at 11:25 pm

Love the family photo and loved the show on Saturday!!!

221

lyley On Tuesday, October 16 at 12:55 am

You wear Spanx camis and skinny jeans? Thats hilarious-I’ll never forget the first pair of spanx my sister brought me-I looked like a wrestler in some kind of twisted throw trying to put them on-we still hose ourselves over that memory.How do you breathe?

I’ve been trying to catch one of your shows forever! I see you post about them on FB, and I’m never in front of my TV at the right time. Finally, on Saturday morning, my hubs was running the remote (of course) and I made him stop at your show.

He grumbled, and boobed, and did it anyway. It was right as you were adding an armload of cheese and bacon into your smashed potatoes. Then when it segued into your blue cheese sauce with onions sauteed in two sticks of butter…..well, right then and there he told me he was off to propose to you.

….and said yours was his newest best most favoritest show.

224

Jane On Wednesday, October 17 at 12:37 am

“Life is just a continual classroom.”

I love it!

225

Phyllis Parkinson On Wednesday, October 17 at 12:25 pm

You just make me laugh at loud, you say all the things we are thinking, the skinny jeans, the spanx tank, blue fingers. You just brighten my DAY!

226

Sherry On Wednesday, October 17 at 1:00 pm

Did I see Lad has another brother besides Tim? Please tell me more!

227

Alexis Brokaw On Wednesday, October 17 at 6:39 pm

Dear Ree,

I wanted you to know that I enjoy your show, and envy your life. You are as normal and real as the rest of us; only you are being filmed. A couple of years ago, my best friends son got married, I wore 2 pair of Spanx to the wedding. The bottom stayed put until I sat down in the church, then it rolled down; the top pushed the “girls” out a little too much. I spent the evening tugging and pulling, trying to keep things together; by the time I got home I wanted to scream, so I understand how you must feel while being filmed.Please keep up the great show, I love seeing you at the lodge, and your family working on the ranch is wonderful and would be a dream come true for me. Sincerely, Alexis Brokaw Yuma AZ

228

JoJo On Wednesday, October 17 at 7:20 pm

Ree,
I had to DVR this latest episode and finally watched it tonight. There are a few things I felt the need to write and say. First, thank you for doi g a unique, family-centered cooking show that is always entertaining. Second, and more importantly, thank you for featuring your father-in-law’s accomplishments.

I lost my dad nearly four years ago, and I cannot tell you how much your Papa reminds me of my farmer/sheriff dad. He was a strong, charming, funny and honorable man who I’ve only grown to respect and love more since he passed on. The tributes we can give to our parents and elders are so important. I cried through this episode but can’t thank you enough for sharing this with me – and all of us.

229

Marcia Finley On Saturday, October 20 at 8:48 pm

Love this show, Ree I sure hope you keep cooking those wonderful meals.
Id love to have one of those mixers mine went by by after 40 years of use.

Marcia On Saturday, October 20 at 8:55 pm

I always have my DVR on ready to record your show, wont miss it for the world. Beautiful Family Show.

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Saturday, April 4: Freezer Fundamentals! While ranch work is going on outside, freezer work is going on inside! I share four more of my favorite freezer basics, which can be made into a whole bunch of different meals.